Best New Cars for Teens

Consumer Reports and the IIHS name safe, reliable new cars and SUVs that are smart choices for teens

By Jeff S. Bartlett

Updated May 23, 2023

It is an exciting, and worrisome, time when a teenager first gets their driver’s license. Parents want to empower their child to be safe and responsible behind the wheel, starting with a good driver’s education program, car insurance, and an appropriate car.

Picking the right car can be the hardest part because there are so many factors to consider. That is why Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have teamed up to recommend new and used cars that testing and analysis have shown to be best suited to inexperienced drivers.

“As parents, we can’t control what happens on the road once our teen driver pulls out of the driveway,” says Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s Auto Test Center. “But we do have some say in the type of vehicle they drive, and that can make a huge difference. This list can help parents find vehicles that check all the boxes.”

We understand that most families are budget-conscious, factoring in the likelihood of dings and dents, in their car selection. But we come at the problem looking for vehicles that can help avoid collisions and limit injuries should a crash happen, then direct families to choose what works best for their budget and needs. (See the best used cars for teens under $20,000.)

The reality is that driving risk is highest at age 16, according to the IIHS. Its data shows that the fatal crash rate per mile driven for teens is about four times the rate for drivers 20 and older. This underscores the importance of keeping teens safe during those first driving years as they gain maturity and experience.

Buying a used car or giving a child a hand-me-down is the natural choice, especially if college costs and independent living may be on the horizon. We have recommendations for the best used cars under $20,000, with many available for less than $15,000.

But there’s another path. Rather than give your teen an older model, buy or lease them a new car, even if that means driving an older model yourself. This strategy isn’t for everyone, but it has its merits, especially since prices remain elevated for all cars.

New cars come with a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranty. And they have the promise of being dependable through high school and well beyond, a time when young adults have other things to focus on than worrying about roadside emergencies and potentially expensive repairs. Plus, they have the very latest active safety features, and integrated services like e911, which can automatically call for help in an emergency and give the precise location of the vehicle, even if drivers are unable to do so themselves.

We understand that this path is the exception rather than the rule, especially amid elevated prices for new cars and inflation.

“While buying a new car for a young driver is less common than buying used, new cars provide the opportunity to give a young driver an advantage in terms of providing the latest in both crash avoidance and crash protection technologies,” says CR’s Stockburger. “If you’re putting out the additional money to buy new, why not choose the safest models and configurations available?”

To help families considering the new-car strategy, CR and the IIHS developed this list of cars that balance accident avoidance, crash protection, performance, and reliability. These selections are ideal for teens, but they can serve any shopper looking for a vehicle that excels in those areas.

These best new cars for teens range from $23,000 to $39,800, slightly less than the price of the average new car ($48,289), according to Kelley Blue Book.

To make the cut to be considered among the best new cars for teens, vehicles must have:

A Consumer Reports recommendation, meaning that it meets our stringent standards for reliability, safety, and road-test performance, including achieving particular thresholds for braking and handling.
Good ratings in four IIHS crashworthiness tests: Moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints.
Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems.
Average or better scores from CR’s emergency handling tests.
Dry braking distances of less than 140 feet from 60 mph in CR’s brake tests.
A curb weight over 2,750 pounds because small, light vehicles don’t provide enough protection in multiple-vehicle crashes. Despite their mass, large SUVs don’t make the list because they can be hard to handle and often have long braking distances. Sports cars are also excluded because they can encourage dangerous driving.
A designation as either a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick Plus by the IIHS based on the model’s performance in key crash, accident avoidance, and headlight tests.
A midlevel or better rating by CR for controls that are easy to use.
Four or five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (if rated).

All the vehicles listed below are 2023 models. Selected trims or option packages include those where the headlights were rated Good or Acceptable in the IIHS’ headlight tests, qualifying them for the Top Safety Pick designations.

The list excludes vehicles that had substantially higher than average insurance claim rates under medical payment or personal injury protection coverage in recent model years and haven’t been redesigned.

Prices are rounded to the nearest $100 and reflect Kelley Blue Book New Car Fair Purchase Prices, as of May 11, 2023, for the least expensive trim level that qualifies for the recommendation. If a particular options package is needed, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for that package has been added to the price.

Click on the model names for complete road tests, reliability and owner satisfaction ratings, pricing, and much more.

The models are ranked by price within each car type group.

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, this complete article is available to you, listing the recommended cars. CR members have full access to the results of our Annual Auto Surveys; first-drive reviews of the newest cars, SUVs, and trucks; and our full road tests and exclusive ratings for each vehicle we buy. If you’re not a CR member, click below to join.

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